Switch-operating mechanism for electric railways.



H. M. CRAIG.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

APPUCATION FltED JAN.20, 1912. 1,140,579. Patented May 25, 1915.

@Vi t neowo JAM- THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTU-LITHOH WASHINGTON. D. C.

RICHARD M. CRAIG, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented litay 25, 1915.

Original application filed February 1, 1910, Serial No. 541,307. Divided and this application filed January 20, 1912. Serial No. 672,379.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD M. CRAIG, citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Operating Mechanism for Electric Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switch actuating mechanism for street cars, and particularly to switch actuating mechanism for electric cars, this application being a division of my pending application, Serial No. 541,307,

filed February 1, 1910, for an electrical indicator for street cars. In said pending application there is shown a street indicating endless display band electrically actuated to shift one step as the street car carrying the band reaches the intersection of a cross street and so display the name of the intersecting street, mechanism being also shown whereby the band may be automatically reversed when the car has reached the end of the route.

The present invention contemplates the use of such a movable band as a means for controlling movement through an electrically operated switch actuating mechanism whereby the switch points along the route of a railway line may be thrown and the car automatically shunted from one line to another.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an automatic electrically operated means whereby upon the arrival of a car at a point adjacent to the switch, the switch without the intervention of the motorman or any switchman will be automatically thrown.

A further object is to provide a mechanism particularly adapted for electric cars whereby current taken from the trolley wire may be used to throw the switch, this current being directed through the switch actuating mechanism by means of the band upon the car which moves in accordance with the movement of the car.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawing wherein the figure is partly in perspective and partly diagrammatic in character, the band operating mechanism being shown in a diagrammatic'plan view while the electrical connections are shown diagrammatically.

Corresponding and hke parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the view of the accompanying drawing by the same reference characters.

The band 2 is preferably endless and is made of any suitable material such as paper, cloth or other fabric. The band however, should not be made of metal unless the metal is coated with a non-conducting composition. The band 2 passes over driving rollers 3. These rolls are shown as two in number but this is purely for illustration. The band is actuated to move a certain distance or step as the car arrives adjacent to a street intersection by means of the solenoid 4- having the movable core 5. Any desired mechanism may be used between the solenoid and the band operating rolls 3 whereby the movement of the core 5 may be transmitted to these rolls, but for purposes of illustration I have shown the same mechanism for driving the band as is-shown in my pending application before referred to.

Connected to the core 5 is the free end of a lever 6 which is pivotally mounted upon a suitable shaft 7. This lever 6 is preferably bifurcated so as to embrace a ratchet wheel 8, and mounted upon the lever 6 is a pawl 9 which engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel so that upon each upward movement of the lever the pawl will engage these teeth and rotate the wheel 8 in a counterclockwise direction.

The wheel 8 engages a longitudinally extended toothed gear 10 which is mounted upon a shaft 11, which shaft carries upon it the oppositely disposed beveled friction gears 12 and 13. The shaft 11 is longitudinally shiftable or the gear 10 and the friction wheels 12 and 13 are longitudinally shiftable upon the shaft, whichever is mostconvenient so that one or the other of the beveled friction wheels 12 and 13 may frictionally engage with a beveled friction wheel 15 mounted upon a shaft 16, which shaft carries at its extremity the beveled gear wheel 17 meshing in turn with a beveled gear wheel 18 on a shaft 19. This shaft 19 is shown as being provided with beveled gear wheels 20 engaging with beveled gear wheels 21 on the rolls 3. It will thus be seen that for each reciprocation of the lever 6, the rolls 3 will be turned to a certain extent, and that the belt 2 will be given a certain step or movement.

In my pending application before referred to electrically operated mechanism is also shown whereby the shaft 11 may be reversed when the belt 2 has made a complete revolution. It is unnecessaryto describe this mechanism in this case but the reversing shaft shifting lever is indicated by the numeral 14.

For the purpose of preventing too great a movement of the shaft 16 and holding the shaft fixed where set, there is also provided a locking member22 having a detent 23 engageable with a star wheel 24 mounted on the shaft 16, this detent lever 22 being actuated to release the detent each time that the lever 6 was actuated to drive the gear 8.

25 designates the trolley wire which is supported at intervals, and particularly at a street intersection by means of a crossing Wire 26. This wire 26 is a conductor. The supports for the wire are of course not shown as they form no part of the present invention. The car is of course provided with the usual trolley pole carrying a trolley wheel 27 engageable with the feed wire 25. 7

It is to be particularly understood that while I have illustrated an overhead feed wire 25 with a trolley pole and trolley wheel, I do not wish to be limited to this as it is entirely possible to use my invention with feed wires contained in underground conduits and engaged by a shoe carried by the car.

Mounted within the car adjacent to the moving band 2 is a metallic roller 28 over which the band 2 passes. This roller in the accompanying figure is shown as being in two sections separated from each other by a non-conducting strip 29, this being the form of the roller as illustrated in my pending application. The band 2 passes over this roller. Located above the band 2 or at least so located that the band 2 is interposed between them and the roller are the contact fingers 30 and 31 of any suitable construction. The contact finger 30 is connected in circuit with an electro-magnet 32 and with a battery 33 or other source of current, and with the roller 28, so that were it not for the interposition of the band 2, a current would pass from the battery 33 to the roller 28, thence to the finger 30 to the magnet 32 and thence back to the battery. The finger 31 is likewise connected in circuit with an electro-magnet 34 which is electrically connected in circuit with the battery 33 as illustrated so that when the finger 31 is in contact with the roller 28, current will pass from the battery through the roller 28, through the finger 31 to-the electro-magnet 34 and thence back to the battery.

.The electro-magnets 32 and 34 are used for the purpose of operating certain switches designated 35 and 36. alike and hence a description ofone will apply to the other. As illustrated, each switch consists of a center pivoted lever having an armature 37 at one end adapted to be attracted by the pole of the corresponding magnet, the other end of the lever being provided with a contact adapted to make or break connectionwith a contact38. There are two contacts 38, one for each of the switches 35 and 36. Both ofthese contacts 38 are electrically connected to a common connection 39 leading to the solenoid 4.

These switches are From the solenoid 4 a conductor 40 leads to v a wheel 41 of the vehicle or to any other suitable ground.

The switch 35 is connected by means of a conductor 42 to a small trolley wheel 43 mounted upon the trolley pole. The switch 36 is connected by means of a conductor 44 to a trolley wheel 45, also mounted upon the trolley pole. Disposed upon the cross wire 26 are the spaced contact members 46 and 47.

- The switch whereby the car is shunted may be of any desired character and I have merely shown a portion of a switch point as I do not believe it necessary to illustrate the entire switch. This switch point is designated 48. V For the purpose of moving the switch point in one direction or the other, I provide the oppositely disposed solenoids 49 and 50. Through these solenoids passes the shiftable core 51 connected by any suitable connection 52 to the switch point It will be obvious that when the solenoid 49 is energized, the core 51 will be drawn to the left, whereas when the solenoid 50 is energized, the core 51 will be drawn to the right. When neither or both of the solenoids are energized, the core 51 will remain stationary. The solenoid 50 is connected at one end of its coil by a conductor 53 to the feed wire 25, while the other end of the coil of the solenoid is connected by means of the conductor 54 to the contact member 46. One end of the coil of solenoid 49 is connected by means of the conductor 55 to the feed wire 25, while the other end is connected by means of the feed wire 56 to the contact 46.

The contacts 46 and 47 are insulated from the supporting member 26, but when the trolley 45 for instance engages with the contact 47, a circuit will be completed from the feed wire 25 through the solenoid 49, back through the conductor 56 to the contact 47, thence through the trolley wheel 45 to the switch 36, thence through the contact 38 of said switch to the solenoid 4 by means of conductor 39, through the solenoid and to the ground by means of the wheel 41. It will be observed that the trolleys 45 and 43 will engage the contacts 46, and 47 at-the in tersection of each street crossing, and that current will, therefore, be directed through both of the trolleys 4:3 and 4:5 and through both of the switches and 36, and, therefore, through both of the solenoids. As current will thus pass-to both of the solenoids and both ofthe solenoids will be equally actuated the switch will not be actuated. It will also be seen that current will be directed under all conditions through both of the contacts 46 and 47, through both of the switches or either one of them, through the wire 39 to the solenoid t and thence to the ground at each street intersection. Hence at each street intersectionor slightly in advance of the same, the solenoid twill be operated to rotate the feed rollers 3 and thus shift the belt 2 along one step. The belt 2 will thus travel correspondingly with the travel of the car so that a certain point upon the belt will arrive between the finger 30 or 31 at the moment the car arrives at any particular switching point.

For the purpose of opening either the switch 35 or 36 and thus breaking the circuit through either the solenoid 49 or 50, I providethe belt 2 which is provided at proper points in its length with the slots 57 and 58. There are any desired number of these slots arranged at intervals along the band 2 corresponding to the arrangement of the switches along the route of the car. The slot or slots 57 are so placed upon the band that as the band moves over the roller 28, the slot 57 will pass beneath the finger 30 so that the finger 30 may drop down into electrical contact with the metallic roller 28. The slot 58 is likewise so arranged upon the band that it will register with the extremity ofv the finger 31 and thus permit this finger to move into electrical engagement with the roller 28. When the slot 57 for instance comes beneath the finger 30, the finger drops into contact with the roller 28 and a circuit is then completed through the electro-magnet 32, energizing said magnet, drawing down upon the armature 37 of the switch and breakingthe circuit through the contact 38. Hence the current will not pass through the solenoid 50 but will pass through the solenoid. 49, drawing the core51 toward the left. If, however, the slot 58 comes beneath the brush 31, then the magnet 34'will be energized and thus the circuit through the solenoid 49 will be broken and the circuit will be through the solenoid 4:9 and thecore 51 will be drawn in the opposite direction.

It will thus be seen that I have provided means whereby a movement of the band 2 will automatically shift the switch point 48 in either direction according to the position of the slots 57 and 58, and that the moment of actuation of the switch will depend entirely upon the position of the slots or the band with its relationto the travel of the latter.

While I have illustrated a certain means for causing the preferable travel of the band, such means being that shown in my prior application, of which this is a division, I wish it distinctly understood that I do not wish to be limited to any specific means for causing the movement of the band, nor is it necessary that the band should have a step by step movement as a continuous movement of the band would, of course, perform the same action as regards the switch.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a feed wire, a traction vehicle having a trolley engaging with said feed wire and a track on which said vehicle moves, of a switch located in the track, a movable member carried by the car,

means for moving the member in correspondence with the progress of the car, and means controlled by the movable member acting to automatically shift said switch when the vehicle has arrived in proximity to the switch.

2. A switch operating mechanism comprising electrically actuated switch point operating mechanism disposed in a normally open circuit with a source of power, and means carried on and actuated by a car in correspondence with its movement for automatically closing said circuit at predetermined intervals corresponding to certain positions of the car on its route.

3. A switch operating mechanism comprising an electrically actuated switch point operating device, a feed wire connected in open circuit with said actuating device, means on a car for closing said circuit to energize the point actuating mechanism, and shiftable means on the car driven in correspondence with the rate of travel of the car for controlling said circuit closing means at predetermined points along the route of the car.

4. A switch operating mechanism comprising electrically actuated mechanism for shifting a switch point, a feed wire con nected in a normally open circuit with said actuating mechanism, means on a car for closing said circuit, a member on the car driven in correspondence with the progress of the car along its route, a normally closed switch interposed in said circuit, and means actuated by said member for opening said switch.

5. The combination with a line conductor, a traction vehicle having a trolley engaging with said conductor, a track on which the vehicle moves, of a switch located in said track, a movable member on the car, means for moving the member in correspondence with the progress of the car, opposed electrically operated switch actuating devices for shifting a switch point in one or the other direction and connected in normally open circuits with the feed wire, and means controlled by the movable member for breaking the circuit through one or the other of saidactuating devices, and closing the circuit through the other of said actuating devices.

6. The combination with a feed Wire, a traction vehicle having a trolley engaging with said wire and a track on which the vehicle moves, of a switch in'said track operable in two directions, opposed electrically actuated switch operating devices, each connected in an open circuit with the feed wire, of means carried by a car for connecting both of said open circuits with a ground to complete a circuit through both of'the switch actuating mechanisms, a movable band, means for shifting said band in correspondence with the rate of progress of the car, and means controlled by said band at predetermined points for breaking the circuit through one or the other of said switch actuating devices.

7. The combination with a feed Wire, a traction vehicle having a trolley engaging with said feed wire and a track on which the vehicle moves, of a switch in said track, oppositely disposed switch operating devices for shifting the switch'in one or the other direction, electrical switches normally closed and completing a circuit through each of said switch operating devices and the feed wire, a movable band moving in correspondence with the rate of movement of the car, and means operated by said band for causing one or the other of said switches to open and thereby break the circuit to one or the other of said switch operating devices.

8. The combination with a feed wire, a traction vehicle having a trolley engaging with said feed wire and a track on which the vehicle moves, of a switch in said track, opposed electrically actuated switch operating mechanisms connected in a normally open circuit with the feed wire, means carried by the vehicle for connecting both of said switch actuating mechanisms with. a ground whereby to close the circuit through both of said switch actuating mechanisms and the feed wire, switches carried by the car and disposed in both of said circuits, said switches being normally closed, a band carried on the car and driven in correspondence with the progress thereof, said band having two series of parallel slots at predetermined intervals, electro-mag nets, one for each of said switches, each opening its corresponding switch when energized, a battery, and contact fingers, each finger being connected in circuit with the battery and the corresponding electro-magnet, said fingers being disposed in the line of travel of the slots on the band, and a contact disposed opposite to said fingers and behind the band connected in circuit with the magnets, the battery and said fingers.

9. The combination with a feed conductor,

a traction vehicle having a trolley engaging said conductor and a track on which the vehicle moves, of a switch on the track, opposed solenoids for operating the switch in one or the other direction, switches normally closed and completing a circuit including both of said solenoids and the feed conductor, a movable band, means for moving said band in correspondence with the progress of the car, and means operated by said band for causing one or the otherof: said switches to open and thereby break the cirso I, r

therefrom, one of the contact strips of each I pair being connected to one of the solenoids and the other contact strip to the other solenoid, both of the solenoids being electrically connected to the feed wire, contacts carried by the vehicle and adapted to engage with the respective contact strips, said contacts being connected to a ground, normally closed switches in said circuit, a movable band carried on the car, means for moving said band in correspondence with the movement of the vehicle, and means actuated by the band at predetermined intervals for opening oneor the'other of said normally closed switches, thus breaking the circuit through one or the other of the solenoid circuits. I a v f 11. The combination with a feed conductor, a traction vehicle having a trolley engaging therewith and a track on which the vehicle moves, of a switch in the track, opposed solenoids for shifting theswitch in one or the other direction, each of said solenoids being connected in open circuit with said feed conductor, a pair of contact strips supported adjacent to the conductor but insulated therefrom, each of the solenoids being electrically connected to one of said contact strips, a pair ofcontacts carried by the vehicle and adapted to engage with the contact strips when the vehicle reaches the same, conductors leading from each of said contacts to a ground and completing a circuit from each solenoid through the feed conductor, switches mounted in said conductors and normally completing a circuit through the same, magnets for opening said switches, a metallic roll electrically connected in circuit with a source of power, a pair of contacts bearing upon the roll, each connected to one of the magnets, a traveling band passing between said roll and said contacts and having in its length perforations in alinement with the contacts and permitting the contacts to electrically engage the In testimony whereof, I aifix my signature r011 between to open one or the other of said in presence of two witnesses.

switches to break the circuit through one or RICHARD M. CRAIG. [L. s.] the other of the solenoids, and means for Witnesses:

causing the band to travel in correspondence CHAS. C. PETERSON, J r.,

with the movement of the car. L. N. WALTHALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). O. 

